Last week this space extolled the virtues of the county fairs. Since the fair season runs until almost mid-October, no one can concoct any excuse for not attending at least one of those venues. In years past fairs survived, believe it or not, thanks to the racing. The percentage of revenue from the handle allocated to the operating expenses of the fairs actually supported them in large measure.

Today, on the other hand, attendance and handle at the races nationally has declined. Ironically, the racing combines excitement with speed and yet few people seem to care anymore.

Look at Topsham Fair last week as an example. Three track records were set, topped off by a new standard for trotters. Bad Boy Billy, a three year-old altered son of Boy Band, came his last quarter in 29.2 and stopped the tele-timer in 2:00.2. In the far away and long ago, with crowds pressing against the chain link fence to catch a glimpse of the races, they never saw speed like that.

This week at Skowhegan, the stakes colts are at it again. In the first division for sophomore pacing fillies, another entrant won for the first time this year. The Salem Witch, driven by Steve Mahar, toured the oval in 2:00.4. This daughter of Computer Scooter, leased by the We Try Try Try Stables, served notice that she too can contend with the other young ladies.

In the other division, Bill Varney's Pembroke Whitney toyed with the field, going her mile in 1:58.4. The heavy favorite, in rein to Heath Campbell, seemingly cemented her position as favorite in this division. Her last quarter in 28.2, in effortless fashion, places her in an enviable position.

Each week at these fairs the MSBS contest almost every division for the entrants. Revenue from slot machines funneled to racing purses has almost doubled the purse money horsemen race for today.

Few experiences in life are benchmark moments. The county fair, however, certainly must rank in that category. Where else can one renew old friendships with people they encounter perhaps only once a year? Where else can a dieter throw caution to the winds and moves the cholesterol meter like the Richter Scale? And where else can one enjoy horse racing in its original setting?

One gentle reminder: for anyone wishing to recapture either their youth or one of those timeless moments when the world does not seem to impinge on the enjoyment of that moment, make a trip to the fair.

BITS, BOOTS, & BRIDLES: Joey Mosher just celebrated his 1000th driving victory with Kentucky Bay at the Topsham Fair . . . Adam Hanley is only 999 wins away from that figure after winning his first aboard Katahdin County; the horse set a lifetime record of 1:58.4 in that win . . . another record-setter, A Capella Bella, trotted her way to a 2:01.4 mile in rein to Ivan Davies for owner Michael Andrew . . . with fair racing well under way, the traveling road show moves to Union next week . . . the Maine Sires Stakes ranks the horses by the way they finish in their races in order to determine which horses will qualify for the finals at Scarborough Downs in October . . . to give you an idea how competitive these division are, here's a brief summary of what has happened in the sophomore ranks: in the pacing colts and geldings division, five different horses have won at least one leg; in the pacing fillies division, five different horses have won at least one leg; in the trotting colts and geldings category, four separate winners; their filly counterparts have also had four individual winners . . . if those figure are a true indication, the final qualifiers will not be determined any time soon. . .